Finding Beauty in the Everyday: How Simple Moments Can Restore the Spirit
There are days when beauty surprises me in the most ordinary of places. I remember one evening during the pandemic, feeling weary and weighed down, when I picked up my guitar and strummed a familiar tune. The day had been long, heavy with uncertainty, and I wasn’t expecting much. But as the music filled the room, something shifted. The tension in my shoulders eased, my thoughts slowed, and I felt a quiet joy rise within me. That simple act — a handful of chords, a melody I knew by heart — reminded me that beauty doesn’t always appear in grand landscapes or extraordinary works of art. Sometimes, it arrives quietly, restoring the spirit in ways we least expect.
I’ve also been moved by stories of others who encountered beauty in unlikely places. One woman in Ukraine, surrounded by the chaos of war, looked up at the stars and found comfort in their steady brilliance. For her, those moments of gazing at the night sky were not trivial; they were essential. They reminded her that even in turmoil, there are things that shine. Beauty became her lifeline of hope, anchoring her in a reality greater than her suffering.
These stories point to something deeper: beauty is not a luxury. It is a necessity. It has the power to soothe, to awaken, and to sustain us through both joy and hardship.
Why Noticing Beauty Matters
When we take time to notice beauty, we do more than appreciate something pleasant ~ we allow our bodies, minds, and spirits to recalibrate. Studies even suggest that beauty can calm the stress centers of the brain, lowering anxiety and restoring a sense of balance. Spiritually, beauty reminds us of the goodness woven into creation. It draws us out of ourselves, connecting us to God and to something larger than our own concerns.
The Psalms capture this truth with remarkable clarity: “God put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our Creator” (Psalm 40). Beauty is not an escape from reality; it is a glimpse of reality’s fullness.
The Barriers We Face
Yet for many of us, beauty feels like an afterthought. Life is busy, bills need paying, children need attention, and to-do lists never seem to shrink. We might tell ourselves, “I’m not artistic,” or “I don’t have time for that.” Some believe beauty is a luxury for those with more money, talent, or leisure. Others see it as a distraction from the “real work” of life or faith.
But what if beauty is part of the real work? What if noticing beauty is as necessary as eating or sleeping ~ not because it’s indulgent, but because it nourishes the soul?
Simple Ways to Notice Beauty Every Day
You don’t need an art gallery or a trip to the mountains to encounter beauty. It’s already around you, waiting to be seen, heard, or felt. Here are a few gentle practices you might try this week:
Pause for a song – Play a piece of music that stirs something within you. Don’t multitask while listening. Close your eyes and let yourself be carried by the melody, noticing how your body responds.
Step outside – Take five minutes to step into nature. Notice the colors of the sky at dusk, the way light filters through trees, or the quiet resilience of flowers growing in unexpected places.
Create something small – Jot down a line of poetry, sketch a quick drawing, or snap a photo of something beautiful you see. The point isn’t perfection ~ it’s paying attention.
Remember beauty – At the end of the day, reflect with a simple question: Where did I see beauty today? How did it touch my spirit? Writing down even one sentence can help you carry those moments forward.
Share beauty – Tell a friend about a moment that lifted your heart, or send them a picture of something that made you smile. Beauty multiplies when we share it.
Beauty as a Spiritual Practice
When we begin to treat beauty as essential ~ not an extra, not a luxury ~ our daily lives take on a deeper richness. Beauty becomes a spiritual practice, one that roots us in gratitude, resilience, and joy. It can soften the hard edges of a difficult day, and it can remind us that we are never alone, even in times of sorrow.
Writers and poets throughout history have affirmed this. The Celtic monk Columbanus once wrote, “Understand the creation if you would wish to know the Creator.” When we attend to beauty, we begin to see the fingerprints of God in creation, in people, and even in ourselves.
An Invitation
Perhaps the invitation is simple: look for one beautiful thing today. It might be the sound of laughter, the rhythm of rain against the window, the kindness in a stranger’s eyes, or the comfort of a familiar prayer. Let it restore you, even if just for a moment.
Because beauty, in the end, is not just something we notice. It is something that sustains us.
Reflection: Where did you last notice beauty in your everyday life? How did it restore your spirit?